Before we dig in any further, let's just acknowledge that this is not exactly a rock-solid report. Guessing sales based off serial numbers is always tough, and can be subject to all sorts of problems.

That said, if it is true, it shows how tiny Google's sales and distribution really are for its smartphone.

Apple is expected to sell between 45 and 50 million smartphones in the holiday quarter. If we take the low end of that range, that means Apple is selling 500,000 iPhones every day. The Nexus 4 has been on sale for a month and a half and it's still not at what Apple does in a day.

We wouldn't call it a flop, though. The Nexus 4 is designed for a small audience of Android-enthusiasts who want an unfettered version of the software. Samsung and HTC add their own touches to Android. Demand for the Nexus 4 appears to be strong, although that could be due to its limited supply.